THE
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS ROLLS OUT SLATE OF 10 NEW
ANIMATED MOTION PICTURES THROUGH 2012
DISNEY'S "FAIRIES" DIRECT-TO-DVD FRANCHISE
WILL ALSO DEBUT
The
Walt Disney Studios unveiled a diverse and ambitious
slate of 10 new animated feature films from Walt Disney
and Pixar Animation Studios to be released through the
year 2012 at a New York press conference held today
by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, and
John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney
and Pixar Animation Studios.
The
line-up includes new films from Disney and Pixar’s
accomplished team of filmmakers, and features vocal
performances by such top celebrity talents as John Travolta
and Miley Cyrus (“Bolt”), Reese Witherspoon
and Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson (“The Bear
and the Bow”), Anika Noni Rose and John Goodman
(“The Princess and the Frog”), as well as
return engagements by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and the rest
of the “Toy Story” vocal ensemble (“Toy
Story 3”). The roster of new animated features
includes six new films from Pixar Animation Studios,
four from Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the first
four in a series of direct-to-DVD films featuring Disney
Fairies from DisneyToon Studios. Starting later this
year with the release of Disney’s “Bolt,”
all Disney and Pixar animated features will be presented
in state-of-the-art Disney Digital 3-D™. Additionally,
newly converted 3-D versions of the beloved classics,
“Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2,”
are set to debut in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
Among
the upcoming animated films on the 2008 release schedule
are “WALL•E” (Pixar) from Academy
Award®-winning director/writer Andrew Stanton (“Finding
Nemo”) opening nationwide June 27th; “Bolt”
(Disney) from the talented new directing team of Chris
Williams and Byron Howard, due in theatres on November
26th; and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of “Tinker
Bell,” the first in a new franchise of original
entertainment set in the world of Fairies, on October
28th. The Studio’s 2009 animated slate includes
the summer release of Pixar’s first 3-D feature,
“Up,” from director Pete Docter (“Monsters,
Inc.”) and co-director Bob Peterson, the Christmas
Day release of Disney’s original animated fairy
tale “The Princess and the Frog” from acclaimed
veteran Disney directors John Musker and Ron Clements
(“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,”
“Hercules,”) and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray
release of "Tinker Bell North of Never Land"
(working title). 2010 brings the highly anticipated
return of Buzz and Woody in the Disney Digital™
3D summer release of Pixar’s “Toy Story
3” directed by Lee Unkrich (“Finding Nemo,”
“Monsters, Inc.”); followed by the Christmas
arrival of
Disney’s
version of the classic fairy tale, “Rapunzel,”
featuring the directing debuts of animation legend Glen
Keane and directing partner Dean Wellins, and the Disney
DVD and Blu-ray release of "Tinker Bell A Midsummer
Storm" (working title). In
the summer of 2011, Pixar’s “newt” marks
the directing debut of multiple Oscar® winning sound
designer Gary Rydstrom. Christmas 2011 brings Pixar’s
first fairy tale, “The Bear and the Bow,”
from acclaimed filmmaker/writer Brenda Chapman (“The
Prince of Egypt”). The Disney DVD and Blu-ray release
of "Tinker Bell A Winter Story" (working title)
also debuts in 2011. The year 2012 will mark the return
of Lightning McQueen, Mater the tow truck, and an international
cast of favorite and new car characters in Pixar’s
“Cars 2,” directed by Brad Lewis (producer
of “Ratatouille”). Scheduled for Christmas
2012 from Walt Disney Animation Studios is “King
of the Elves,” an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick
short story, directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker
(“Brother Bear”).
Commenting
on the announcement, Cook said, “We couldn’t
be more proud and excited about our upcoming line-up
of feature projects. With so many great films literally
on the drawing boards and computer screens, we felt
that now was the perfect time to give moviegoers all
over the world an update on the state of our art. In
a year when our Studio is marking the 80th anniversary
of Mickey Mouse, the character that started it all for
us, it seems especially timely to share our plans for
the future of animation. With John Lasseter and Ed Catmull
guiding our creative efforts both at Emeryville and
in Burbank, this is as exciting a time as any in our
history.”
Lasseter
added, “This is an amazing time for animation
at Disney and Pixar, and it’s a thrill to be working
on such a diverse and original group of films with such
an all-star team of filmmakers. The thing I love best
about my job is that I get to work at both Disney and
Pixar with filmmakers who are passionate about their
projects and who are the absolute best in the business.
We’re excited to be pushing the boundaries of
3-D and computer technology to tell our stories in the
best possible way. At the same time, we’re drawing
on our past to emphasize memorable characters, original
edge-of-your-seat stories, and believable worlds. Walt
Disney and his creative team taught us how to blend
comedy, powerful emotion, and action-filled excitement
in our films, and this group of incredible filmmakers
is bringing their own originality and sensibilities
to the process.”
2008:
WALL•E
(Domestic Release Date: June 27th, 2008)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director/Screenwriter: Andrew Stanton
Producer: Jim Morris
Co-Producer: Lindsey Collins
Sound and Character Voice Designer: Ben Burtt
Composer: Thomas Newman, with an Original Song Performed
by Peter Gabriel
Voice Talent: Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, Sigourney Weaver,
John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy
What
if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to
turn off the last robot?
Academy
Award®-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton (“Finding
Nemo”) and the inventive storytellers and technical
geniuses at Pixar Animation Studios transport moviegoers
to a galaxy not so very far away for a new computer-animated
cosmic comedy about a determined robot named WALL•E.
After
hundreds of lonely years doing what he was built for,
WALL•E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter
Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides
collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search
robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E
has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s
future, and races back to space to report her findings
to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that
it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL•E
chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one
of the most incredible comedy adventures ever brought
to the big screen.
Joining
WALL•E on his fantastic journey across a universe
of never-before-imagined visions of the future is a
hilarious cast of characters including a pet cockroach,
and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots.
BOLT
(Domestic Release Date: November 26th, 2008, Disney
Digital 3-D™)
Walt Disney Animation Studios Directors: Chris Williams,
Byron Howard
Producer: Clark Spencer
Voice Talent: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman
For
super-dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta), every day
is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue –
at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the canine
star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his
Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his
biggest adventure yet – a cross-country journey
through the real world. Armed only with the delusions
that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and
with the help of two unlikely traveling companions –
a jaded, abandoned housecat named Mittens (voiced by
Susie Essman), and TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic
ball named Rhino – Bolt discovers he doesn’t
need superpowers to be a hero. Miley Cyrus (“Hannah
Montana”) brings her vocal talents to the role
of Penny, Bolt’s human co-star on the television
series.
TINKER
BELL (Disney DVD and Blu-ray Release Date: October 28th,
2008)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Bradley Raymond
Producer: Jeannine Roussel
Enter
the magical world of fairies and meet the enchanting
creatures of Pixie Hollow, who “nurture nature”
and bring about the change of the seasons. Changing
the colors of the leaves, moving a sunbeam to melt snow,
waking animals from their winter slumber, or giving
a patch of sproutlings a sprinkle of water are all within
the realm of these seasonal specialists. Tinker Bell
thinks her fairy talent as a “tinker” isn’t
as special or important as the other fairies’
talents. But when Tink tries to change who she is, she
creates nothing but disaster! With encouragement from
her friends Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn and Iridessa,
Tink learns the key to solving her problems lies in
her unique tinker abilities…and discovers that
when she’s true to herself, magical things can
happen.
2009:
UP
(Domestic Release Date: May 29th, 2009, Disney Digital
3-D™)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Pete Docter
Co-Director: Bob Peterson
Producer: Jonas Rivera
Writer: Bob Peterson
Voice Talent: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger,
Jordan Nagai
From
the Academy Award®-nominated team of director Pete
Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”) and co-director
Bob Peterson comes “Up,” a comedic adventure
taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl
Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring
the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But
at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a
twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness
Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life.
“Up” takes audiences on a thrilling journey
where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected
villains and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure
next summer – look “Up.”
TOY
STORY in 3-D (Domestic Release Date: October 2nd, 2009)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: John Lasseter
Producers: Ralph Guggenheim, Bonnie Arnold
Composer: Randy Newman
Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim
Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger
Originally
released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, “Toy
Story” was the first feature film from Pixar Animation
Studios and director John Lasseter. The film went on
to receive Oscar® nominations for Best Original
Score, Best Original Song, and Best Original Screenplay,
and earned Lasseter a Special Achievement Award (Oscar®)
“for the development and inspired application
of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length
computer-animated film.” The 3-D version of this
landmark film is being personally overseen by Lasseter
with his acclaimed team of technical wizards handling
all the necessary steps in the conversion process.
THE
PRINCESS AND THE FROG (Domestic Release Date: Christmas
2009)
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements
Producer: Peter Del Vecho
Composer: Randy Newman
Voice Talent: Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Jenifer
Lewis, John Goodman
A
musical set in the greatest city of them all, New Orleans,
“The Princess and the Frog” marks Disney’s
return to the timeless art form of traditional animation.
The film teams Ron Clements and John Musker, creators
of “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin,”
with Oscar®-winning composer Randy Newman to tell
the most beautiful love story ever told…with frogs,
voodoo, and a singing alligator.
TINKER
BELL NORTH OF NEVER LAND - working title (Disney DVD
and Blu-ray Release Date: 2009)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Klay Hall
Producer: Sean Lurie
In
autumn, Tinker Bell is entrusted with crafting a great
treasure that can rejuvenate the Pixie Dust Tree. But
when her friend Terence offers to help, Tink's temper
and stubbornness get the better of her, shattering both
her creation and her friendship with Terence. To set
things right again, she must embark on a journey far
North of Never Land… and along the way, she will
discover an even greater treasure.
2010:
TOY
STORY 2 in 3-D (Domestic Release Date: February 12th,
2010)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: John Lasseter
Co-Directors: Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Producers: Helene Plotkin, Karen Robert Jackson
Composer: Randy Newman
Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey
Grammer, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Jim Varney, Wallace
Shawn, John Ratzenberger
Originally
released in 1999, “Toy Story 2” went on
to become one of the most popular animated features
of all time. The film picks up as Andy is heading off
to Cowboy Camp and the toys are left to their own devices.
When an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggin (owner
of Al’s Toy Barn) kidnaps Woody, and Woody learns
that he’s a highly valued collectable from a 1950s
TV show called “Woody’s Roundup,”
the stage is set for a daring rescue attempt by the
gang from Andy’s room. The film introduced such
other memorable characters from “Woody’s
Roundup” as Jessie the cowgirl, Bullseye the horse,
and the Prospector.
TOY
STORY 3 (Domestic Release Date: June 18th, 2010, Disney
Digital 3-D™)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Lee Unkrich
Producer: Darla K. Anderson
Writer: Michael Arndt
Composer: Randy Newman
Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don
Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Estelle Harris, John Ratzenberger,
Ned Beatty
The
creators of the beloved “Toy Story” films
re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the
delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang
of toy characters in “Toy Story 3.” Lee
Unkrich (co-director of “Toy Story 2” and
“Finding Nemo”) directs this highly anticipated
film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award®-winning
screenwriter of “Little Miss Sunshine,”
brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities
to the proceedings.
RAPUNZEL
(Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2010, Disney Digital
3-D™)
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Glen Keane, Dean Wellins
Producer: Roy Conli
In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, “Rapunzel,”
audiences will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy
world complete with the iconic tower, an evil witch,
a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl with
the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor,
and hair…lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes
her locks in theaters for the 2010 holiday.
TINKER
BELL A MIDSUMMER STORM - working title (Disney DVD and
Blu-ray Release Date: 2010)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Carolyn Gair
Producer: Margot Pipkin
After
being confronted by her antagonist Vidia, an irritated
Tinker Bell retaliates by taking a photograph of Vidia…without
considering the consequences. Now, the two must set
aside their differences and cooperate to prevent evidence
of the existence of fairies from falling into human
hands.
2011:
NEWT
(Domestic Release Date: Summer 2011, Disney Digital
3-D™)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Gary Rydstrom
Producer: Richard Hollander
Writers: Gary Rydstrom, Leslie Caveny
What
happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed
newts on the planet are forced together by science to
save the species, and they can’t stand each other?
That's the problem facing Newt and Brooke, heroes of
”newt,” the Pixar film by seven-time Academy
Award® winner for sound Gary Rydstrom, and director
of Pixar's Oscar nominated short, "Lifted."
Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable
adventure and discover that finding a mate never goes
as planned, even when you only have one choice. Love,
it turns out, is not a science.
THE BEAR AND THE BOW (Domestic Release Date:
Christmas 2011, Disney Digital 3-D™)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Brenda Chapman
Producer: Katherine Sarafian
Voice Talent: Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly, Emma
Thompson
A
rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar’s
action-adventure "The Bear and the Bow.”
The impetuous, tangle-haired Merida, though a daughter
of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a great
archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida
to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended
peril on her father’s kingdom and her mother’s
life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces
of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things
right. Director Brenda Chapman (“The Prince of
Egypt,” “The Lion King”) and the storytelling
wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement
in this rich Highland tale.
TINKER
BELL A WINTER STORY - working title (Disney DVD and
Blu-ray Release Date: 2011)
DisneyToon Studios
Producer: Sean Lurie
The fourth, as-yet-untold story of Tinker Bell and her
fairy friends will take place in winter, completing
the cycle of theseasons.
2012:
CARS
2 (Domestic Release Date: Summer 2012, Disney Digital
3-D™)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Brad Lewis
All
the world’s a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning
McQueen zooms back into action, with his best friend
Mater in tow, to take on the globe’s fastest and
finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment
of the “Cars” saga. Mater and McQueen will
need their passports as they find themselves in a new
world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic escapades
around the globe. “Cars 2” is being directed
by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film
“Ratatouille.”
KING
OF THE ELVES (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2012,
Disney Digital 3-D™)
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
Producer: Chuck Williams
Legendary
storyteller Phillip K. Dick’s short story (his
only experiment in the fantasy genre) becomes the basis
for this fantastic and imaginative tale about an average
man living in the Mississippi Delta, whose reluctant
actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them
to name him their new king. Joining the innocent and
endangered elves as they attempt to escape from an evil
and menacing troll, their unlikely new leader finds
himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable
dangers and a chance to bring real meaning back to his
own life.
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